Cairo: Planning and Economic Development Minister Ahmed Rostom announced that Egypt's manufacturing sector has been a consistent contributor to the nation's economic growth, adding approximately 1.1 percentage points to the overall growth rate of 5.1% in the fiscal year 2025/2026.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Rostom shared these insights during the "Quiet Reinvention of Global Manufacturing and the Art of Production at Scale" panel discussion at the 15th AIM Investment Summit in Dubai. He elaborated on Egypt's strategy to incorporate advanced technologies into its productive sectors, underscoring their influence on the national economy.

Rostom emphasized the potential of the textiles, automotive, and value-added services sectors, suggesting they offer significant investment opportunities that could bolster Egypt's industrial foundation and attract further foreign investment. Furthermore, he revealed Egypt's collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to develop a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

The strategy aims to create a five-year plan for the responsible use of emerging technologies, focusing on public awareness, standardizing government systems, and facilitating secure data exchange. Rostom stressed the necessity of establishing regulatory frameworks to ensure transparency and accountability in mitigating cybersecurity risks from algorithm interactions.

He also highlighted the need to reskill and upskill the workforce alongside AI integration into production, emphasizing the goal of empowering people rather than replacing them with machines. Rostom called for increased investment in science and technology education to broaden access to knowledge, particularly for disadvantaged groups.

Rostom concluded by warning that failing to address the human aspect of technological transformation could exacerbate the "digital divide," potentially posing a structural challenge to future employment opportunities.